Do you know any girl who never remains attentive in the classroom and shows more tantrums? There is a possibility that she is dealing with any mental illness that might be ADHD. Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is a mental disorder that affects individuals including children, adolescents, and teenagers. Moreover, both genders are affected equally by ADHD. The difference is only in the presentation of the symptoms. In addition, some ADHD symptoms are more evident in girls and women as compared to boys and men.
If you want to know more about ADHD in girls and women, read this article in detail. This article is a comprehensive guide to ADHD symptoms, causes, diagnosis, and treatment in girls and women. So if you want to get complete and detailed knowledge about ADHD in girls and women then this article is the best guide for you.
ADHD in Girls and Women
‘’Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is a common but complex neurodevelopmental disorder that affects the cognitive abilities of individuals including girls and women. The affected girls and women do not easily regulate their emotions and the associated behavior. Moreover, there are three different types of ADHD in girls and women which include inattentive type ADHD, hyperactive/impulsive, or combined ADHD. In addition, both girls and women have to encounter multiple challenges in their lives due to the symptoms of ADHD. Psychotherapy and medications are the best treatment options for ADHD in girls and women’’.
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common mental illness that affects both boys and girls irrespective of their gender, age, ethnicity, or any other socio-economic factor. The most common symptoms of ADHD in girls and women are lack of attention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. However, the symptoms of ADHD in girls and women are presented differently as compared to boys and men. Most of the girls remain underdiagnosed with ADHD and do not get the treatment on time. Due to a lack of diagnosis and effective treatment on time, both girls and women have to face multiple challenges in each phase of their lives. Whenever you feel that you are not paying attention to your daily tasks and are having trouble managing your domestic chores or fulfilling your professional responsibilities, seek professional help. Mental health experts employ different therapeutic approaches which comprise medications, psychotherapy, and some positive or healthy alterations in lifestyle.
ADHD in Girls & Women: Top Facts to Know!
In previous times, most people had a belief that ADHD only occurs in boys and men. But with time, people start believing that ADHD can also occur in girls and women when symptoms start appearing and they start getting noticed. However, even nowadays, several women are underdiagnosed or misdiagnosed with ADHD. Moreover, multiple recent studies have reported that the prevalence of ADHD in girls and women is approximately equal to the prevalence in boys and men. But the difference only lies in their rate of diagnosis which is still approximately larger in boys as compared to girls and women.
In addition, there is also little research on ADHD in girls as compared to boys as there is extensive data available regarding ADHD in boys and women. Even if the females have symptoms in their childhood stages, they only start noticing unusual symptoms in adulthood. Among them, some take their mental illness seriously and start preparing their mind to seek professional help. On the other hand, some ADHD girls or women ignore their mental condition and live their lives without taking any stress.
If the symptoms of ADHD are left untreated in childhood stages then this mental illness can persist to adulthood stages and present more challenges to the suffering girls and women in different phases of their life.
Who gets ADHD?
Any individual can suffer from ADHD but it mostly develops in the childhood stage. If they remain unrecognized or overlooked then this mental condition can be prolonged. Multiple studies have reported that approximately 5% to 11% of children suffer from ADHD and among them, most are girls. In most of the children, ADHD symptoms get masked and they outgrow it while for the remaining ones, symptoms remain with them for their later life. Fortunately, with the help of the most effective treatment option, teenagers or adults battling with ADHD can get rid of this mental issue.
What are the common symptoms of ADHD in Girls and Women?
Each girl and woman respond differently to ADHD and exhibit some major differences in the symptoms. However, the most common symptoms of ADHD include:
- Difficulty in paying attention
- Making careless mistakes
- Hyperactive behavior
- Lack of organizational abilities
- Excessive talkative
- Impulsivity
- Easily distracted from others
- Fidgeting
- Difficulty in social communication
- Losing things
- Insomnia
- Intrusive thoughts
- Self-harming activities
- Fear of social rejection
- Additional indications of ADHD
Although symptoms of ADHD are the best indicators of this mental illness, there are some additional indications for ADHD which include co-occurring mental conditions such as anxiety or depression. Moreover, ADHD girls face difficulty in maintaining their personal or professional relationships. In addition, ADHD teenage girls are more sexually hyperactive at a very young age as compared to other girls. They have a desire to get care and love from their partners and always remain in stress to satisfy their partners. However, some girls with ADHD became victims of sexual abuse or violence. Furthermore, they face difficulty in insisting their partners use contraceptive drugs.
What are the causes of ADHD in Girls and Women?
The exact cause of ADHD is still not known. However, the researchers have identified the following main causes of ADHD in girls and women.
1. Genetic predisposition
There is a strong connecting link between ADHD and genes. If you have ADHD then there is a greater probability that your child will also have the ADHD genes. Moreover, your previous family history of ADHD is also an indication that you can suffer from ADHD at any point in your life.
2. Neurotransmitter changes
Neurotransmitters are the specialized chemicals that regulate brain activity or function. In the presence of ADHD, the level of serotonin, epinephrine, and norepinephrine gets disrupted and you experience negative changes in your mental health and behavior.
3. Environmental factors
Just like intrinsic factors, multiple environmental factors can result in the development of ADHD in girls and women such as:
- Brain injury or trauma
- Low birth weight or premature birth
- Abnormalities in the central nervous system
- Loss of any loved one
- Financial loss
- Natural incident
- Substance abuse
- Exposure to any contaminant such as tobacco or alcohol
- Chronic stress
What are the common types of ADHD in Girls and Women?
There are three main different types of ADHD in girls and women which are as follows:
1. Inattentive ADHD
Inattentive ADHD is most common in girls as compared to other types of ADHD. The affected girls and women do not pay complete attention in the classroom. They do not even listen to their fellows and friends. To get diagnosed with this type of ADHD, you must have to meet the following criteria.
- You feel difficulty in staying focused and consistent on a single task
- You become habitual in making most often mistakes due to inattentive behavior
- You never think before speaking anything
- You never feel passionate about starting new projects
- You most often forget the things
- You get easily distracted from any external stimuli
- You prefer to stay alone instead of interacting with others
2. Hyperactive/Impulsive type ADHD
In this type of ADHD, girls and women usually exhibit more hyperactive and impulsive behavior. Whenever they are in any conversation, they do not think before saying any word and say harsh words. Moreover, their hyperactive behavior also disrupts their relationships in school, college, and the workplace. The diagnosis of hyperactive or impulsive type ADHD depends on the following criteria:
- You most often feel fatigued
- You never feel satisfaction with your innate capabilities
- You never stopped yourself from showing extra talkative behavior
- You feel difficulty in understanding and interpreting the social boundaries
What is the impact of ADHD on the life functioning of Girls and Women?
Girls and women suffering from ADHD face multiple challenges in their lives. They have to struggle more as compared to the men as multiple internal as well as external factors influence their mental health and overall
1. Difficulty in attention
Girls with ADHD are unable to pay attention in their classroom. They do not easily understand what their teacher is saying and are unable to remember the most important things. Moreover, they also show aggressive behavior in front of their teachers and classmates. In addition, ADHD girls are usually more daydreamers as they spend most of their time thinking about irrelevant things instead of remaining in reality. Due to their anger outbursts, they do not easily communicate with others and remain in isolated form.
2. Lack of social skills
Girls and women suffering from ADHD are unable to effectively interact with others in social communities or social settings. They do not have an idea of what to say in front of others and what they should avoid. In most of the cases, they have to face criticism as they are unable to communicate what they feel. Due to their social skills, they prefer to stay alone instead of showing any contribution in any social activity. They only feel comfortable in isolation and prefer their me time more.
3. Difficulty in professional life
Due to the symptoms of ADHD, teenage or adult girls have to face multiple issues in their professional lives. They do not meet the deadlines for completing their projects. Moreover, they forget the most important dates and things they need in their professional day. They do not easily handle the stress of their workplace and therefore remain stressed as compared to other employees.
4. Difficulty in household management
Girls or women with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder also feel difficulty managing their household tasks or responsibilities. They have to strive more in keeping things organized, cleaning the house, or making a meal for their entire family. Moreover, they do not pay attention or provide the desired care to their baby and get into distressing situations more easily.
5. Self-blaming
Those girls and women who are suffering from ADHD are never satisfied with themselves. Whenever they do anything wrong, they just blame themselves instead of others. This factor is antagonistic in men and boys in which self-blaming is less common. Moreover, affected girls and women also do not feel at ease in identifying the social clues and therefore mostly feel insecure. Therefore, they do not show their innate skills and capabilities and remain confined in their periphery. Due to excessive self-blaming, they become more prone to anxiety, depression, eating disorders, mood disorders, etc. For example, girls and women suffer more from anorexia nervosa or bulimia nervosa as compared to other unaffected girls and women.
6. ADHD can cause severe outcomes
If the ADHD symptoms in girls and women are diagnosed in early stages and treated on time then they can protect themselves from multiple negative consequences in their later life. However, if the mental illness is left untreated or not treated on time, then the persistent ADHD symptoms make adulthood more challenging. In most cases, teenage girls are at more risk of attempting suicide as they do not tolerate stress due to reduced control over their minds. While some of the ADHD girls and women just experience the intrusive thoughts which then lead to multiple issues such as the occurrence of mood disorders, eating disorders as well as unplanned pregnancies.
How to diagnose ADHD in Girls and Women?
Without diagnosis, you can not get the complete solution for your mental illness. Therefore, professional mental health experts first diagnose ADHD by analyzing the symptoms and some important factors including previous medical history and family history of ADHD. They perform both physical evaluation and psychological evaluations to confirm the presence of ADHD in girls and women.
In the childhood stages, the symptoms of ADHD in girls and women are first identified by the teachers in the classroom. Then they report it to their parents so they can get professional help for their child.
Based on the results of the diagnosis, experts develop a therapeutic strategy that comprises the medications and psychotherapy in individual or combined form. Experts recommend the treatment based on the severity of mental illness.
Treatment of ADHD in Girls and Women
ADHD can be treated by the most common treatment options which include psychotherapy and medications. Experts employ the therapeutic strategy based on the severity of the symptoms of ADHD. Some experts are in favor of psychotherapy only while some recommend both psychiatric medications and psychotherapy for the treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Experts employ the following treatment options which are as follows:
1. Psychotherapy
Psychotherapy is a specialized therapy that is used to treat cognitive abnormalities. The main role of psychotherapy is to first identify the triggers and then guide the individuals on how they can overcome their mental illness and live a happier life. Different types of psychotherapy are considered effective for the treatment of ADHD which are as follows:
2. Cognitive behavioral therapy
Cognitive behavioral therapy is the most commonly used psychotherapy that is used for the treatment or prevention of ADHD in girls and women. During the sessions of cognitive behavioral therapy, individuals are first asked to share their mental health issues. They develop a secure, friendly, and non-judgmental environment so each ADHD girl or woman feels free to share all mental health concerns or challenges they are facing in their life. Moreover, they also assist ADHD girls and women to learn multiple coping or preventive strategies so they overcome all their challenges with their absolute mental potential and courage.
3. Behavioral strategies
With the help of behavioral strategies, girls and women battling with ADHD can learn multiple skills such as organizing things and managing the time to complete tasks with precision and ensuring quality.
4. Medications
Medications play a significant role in managing the symptoms of ADHD in girls and women. Always remember that you can not get complete relief from the symptoms of ADHD but you can manage your symptoms and enhance your quality of life. There are different types of medications that are recommended by experts for treating ADHD which include:
5. Stimulant medications
Stimulants are the specialized medications that are considered the first choice for the treatment of ADHD. They help in improving attention, cognitive functions as well as behavior.
Experts mostly recommend the following stimulants for the treatment of ADHD in girls and women:
Amphetamine
Lisdexamfetamine
Methylphenidate
Non-stimulants
Non-stimulants are the type of stimulants that are recommended by experts when stimulants are not effective and do not provide the desired results. The following non-stimulants are recommended by experts:
Clonidine
Viloxazine
Atomoxetine
6. Support groups
Support groups are ideal for providing mental health support to ADHD girls and women. With the help of support groups, girls and women not only understand their mental illness but also accept their thoughts and emotions. Moreover, by sharing their life experience, they also learn strategies to manage their ADHD symptoms.
7. Family therapy
Family therapy is another useful approach to treat ADHD in girls and women. In this therapy, the suffering individual attends the therapy session with the family members to develop a better insight into how ADHD affects their life. Moreover, in family therapy sessions, they feel relaxed in the presence of our family members and speak their hearts out without any hesitation or embarrassment.
Effect of Hormonal Response in ADHD
If you are taking any medication then there is a possibility that any hormonal alteration can affect your mental state. Hormonal fluctuations during pregnancy, menstrual cycle, and at the time of menopause are a higher risk of experiencing negative or undesired changes in their medication regimen. So if you ever see any unexpected change in yourself during your medication intake journey then immediately report it to your mental health professional to prevent any future consequences. Then experts make some alterations in your medication regimen or recommend you some other alternative.
Professional ADHD treatment at Brainpower Wellness Institute
At Brainpower Wellness Institute, we are concerned about your mental wellness and your loved ones. We want to empower the mental well-being of each individual including girls and women. Our team of professional mental health experts specializes in treating ADHD in girls and women. They have complete knowledge regarding each aspect of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and all other common mental issues such as anxiety, depression, etc. Moreover, they are skilled in developing personalized plans that cater to the individual requirements of each ADHD individual.
Our therapeutic strategies are not restricted to either gender age or socio-economic factors. Whether you are a girl or boy, a victim of ADHD, you are in the best place. Our experts first perform cutting-edge research before applying any therapeutic strategy. Moreover, they also make efforts to remain updated with the latest trends so you always receive the uncompromised and best quality mental care that you deserve. Furthermore, we not only provide exceptional ADHD treatment for girls and women, but we also provide guidance and teach individuals different coping strategies to overcome the symptoms of ADHD.
So what are you looking for now? Take a step ahead and schedule a consultation with our ADHD experts to treat your ADHD now and start your unforgettable journey of mental wellness. Make a difference in your life now!
Last thoughts
ADHD is a mental health disorder that is characterized by inattention, impulsiveness, and hyperactivity. Both men and women suffer from the symptoms of ADHD. There is a distinction in the presentation of symptoms in girls and women as compared to boys and men. Multiple factors including genetic, environmental, and psychological factors combine together and result in the development of ADHD in girls and women. Moreover, there are also diverse causes of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. However, girls and women can get relief from the symptoms of ADHD and live a mentally active and peaceful life.
So if you are a girl who is a victim of ADHD or know any other female who is struggling with ADHD, guide them to seek professional help from mental health experts. Schedule a consultation with Brainpower’s mental health experts and get the best ADHD solutions to reclaim your mental well-being today.
